Destinations / TRAVEL BUZZ

SURF WITH THE PROS Known as
one of the most desirable stretches
of white sand in Los Cabos,
Monuments Beach (aka Surfers’
Paradise) is adjacent to the newly
opened The Cape. So it only makes
sense that the property, a Thompson Hotel, would offer a once-in-a-lifetime retreat for surfing fanatics.

Taking place May 19–22, the multi-day experience presented by Man-sa Vida (a travel company founded
by pro surfers Rob Machado and
Tim Curran) includes surfing workshops with the pros, screenings
of cult surf films, a photography
exhibition of work by renowned
surf photographer Tom Servais, a
live rooftop acoustic guitar concert
with music by Curran, daily breakfast and morning yoga, and swag
from the pros’ sponsors. And for
those who want to experience the
ultimate in luxury, the Surfer Villa
— a three-bedroom, two-story
unit complete with a chef’s kitchen
and private plunge pool — is
an option for the weekend. If that’s
not enough to convince you to go,
maybe the unparalleled views of
El Arco from the only rooftop bar
(shown below) in Cabo San Lucas
will. Packages start at $2,921 for
single occupancy. thompsonhotels.
com/the-capeVERONICA SOOLE Y

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Behemoths as big as school buses with gaping four-foot-wide mouths and 300-plus
rows of tiny teeth are roaming the ocean, but fear not, whale sharks are gentle giants
and the world’s largest fish, who filter-feed on tiny creatures like plankton and fish
eggs. A mystery to scientists over the years, these polka-dotted swimmers of warm-water seas were rarely spotted in the wild — even the ultimate underwater explorer,
Jacques Cousteau, only encountered the elusive whale shark twice in his career. But
lately the solitary nomads have been found in the rich feeding grounds off Madagascar,
Australia, the Philippines, Yucatán and La Paz, and a bucket-list swim with one is even
better than you can imagine.

Eco-adventure company Explora Baja delivers an exquisite whale shark experience.
A simple shaded skiff whisks a small group to the turquoise shallows of the Bay of La Paz
in the Sea of Cortez, a place Cousteau called the “aquarium of the world.” Once a whale
shark is spotted, mask-and-fin-donning swimmers quietly slip into the sea for an eye-to-eye, adrenaline-surging snorkel. Faint stripes and white-dotted designs — each pattern is
unique as a fingerprint — color the gray-blue creatures, which pose no threat to humans.
Remoras cling to their fins and bellies, along for the ride.

This epic whale shark adventure is further enhanced by a stay at the lovely Costa BajaResort, a sprawling property 15 minutes outside of sleepy La Paz, with a hotel, villas, pri-vate homes, a yacht-dotted marina, swim-up bar, spa, Gary Player golf course and five fabrestaurants. A stunning beach club also awaits with fire pits, daybeds, an infinity pool,frosty margaritas, carne asada tacos and friendly service. With your toes in the sand anda cold drink in hand, you’ll already be planning your return, as it’s impossible to get thosegentle giants out of your mind. costabajaresort.comLa Paz’s whale shark season runs November through April. Only opt for certified captainswith permits who follow the regulations and whose boats bear the whale shark flag. ANN W YCOFFSwimming With Giants